Make the Most of the Summer Months
The summer before senior year of high school is a great time for students to make progress on the college application process well in advance of fall and winter application deadlines, experts say.
“It just really makes it a less stressful, less overwhelming process when you can kind of take it piece by piece and really just get a jump on it,” says Katie Sprague, senior director for Collegewise Orange County, an admissions consulting firm.
Here are 10 application-related tasks prospective college students can tackle during the summer.
Narrow Down the College List
A successful college search requires thoughtful research. Prospective students should spend time learning about schools over the summer to identify institutions that may be a good fit, Sprague says. They should ultimately aim to build a well-balanced college list that includes reach schools, match schools and schools that are more likely to admit them, she says. Some people refer to the latter group as safety schools. Experts told U.S. News in 2017 that prospective students should apply to between four and eight schools.
Visit College Campuses
Summer can be an ideal time for families to visit colleges because teens aren’t busy with extracurriculars and homework. Visiting a college in person gives prospective students and their families the opportunity to ask questions about academics, financial aid and anything else they’re curious about. While campuses are often quieter during the summer months, there are still people available for prospective students to speak with, such as admissions officers and student tour guides.
Work on College Essays
Diving into the college essay writing process in the summer will give students time to work through multiple drafts. Those who are having a hard time choosing a topic can turn to friends and family for help, Stephanie Klein Wassink, founder of Winning Applications and AdmissionsCheckup, Connecticut-based college admissions advising companies, recently told U.S. News. To jump-start the conversation, she says students can ask questions like, “What do you think differentiates me?”
Additionally, prospective students can go online to check if any of the schools they’re interested in applying to require one or more supplemental essays.
Ask for Letters of Recommendation
Some colleges and universities require applicants to obtain letters of recommendation, usually from teachers and school counselors. By asking for letters of recommendation before the start of their senior year, students can give recommenders time to write before they are flooded with requests in the fall. The number of letters of recommendation required varies between schools. Students can go online to determine how many letters they’ll need to apply to a particular college.
Compile an Activities List
Prior to filling out applications, it can be helpful for students to write a list of all of the extracurricular activities they’ve been involved in and describe them, Sprague says. Students can then transfer this information into any application platforms they use that have an activities section, such as The Common Application. Spending time reflecting on the activities they’ve been involved in may also help students come up with ideas for how to answer some of the essay questions that colleges ask, Sprague says.
Experts say that activities don’t just include school-sponsored sports or clubs. Colleges are also interested in learning about a student’s work experience and family obligations.
Research Scholarships
While some scholarship application windows may not open until the fall, prospective college students can still explore available award opportunities. There are lots of websites that can assist students in their scholarship search. U.S. News also offers a guide on how to find and secure scholarships for college.
Study for Standardized Tests
Many high school students take the SAT or ACT during their junior year, but some may want to retake one of the college entrance exams in the fall of senior year to try to raise their score. If students’ SAT scores are just below the average mark for their prospective schools, it may be worth it to sit for the test again, according to a 2016 blog post from U.S. News contributor Brian Witte of Varsity Tutors.
Learn About Financial Aid Requirements
Students and parents can take some time during the summer to learn about the various aspects of the college financial aid process, Sprague says. There are several types of financial aid, including grants, scholarships, work-study and federal or private loans. Families can research the financial aid application requirements and deadlines for the schools a prospective student is interested in. For example, some schools ask for a form called the College Scholarship Service Profile in addition to the FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
Work or Volunteer
Volunteering or landing a summer job can help boost students’ college applications and help them gain exposure to potential career paths. For example, students interested in becoming doctors can work or volunteer in a hospital, Jayme Stewart, director of college guidance at York Preparatory School, a private college prep high school in New York, told U.S. News in 2014.
Start Filling Out Applications
Some college applications don’t open until later in the summer. For example, the application for the University of California system opens on Aug. 1. The Common App, a platform that allows students to apply to multiple colleges at once, also opens on Aug. 1, but students can create an account at any time and transfer their information into the new app when it opens.
More College Application Advice
Read two college essays that worked, and learn how to get accepted into college with a low GPA.
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10 Summer College Application Tasks for Rising High School Seniors originally appeared on usnews.com
